Automotive: With the right machines and use of robots, transfluid ensures economical production of short exhaust tubes with compact bending geometry
Cutting tubes is an art. A process is especially valuable if it avoids scrap and makes the immediately following process possible. For example, in exhaust technology in the automotive industry (at least when engine manifolds are involved), short tubes are frequently required, which feature numerous bends in short sequence. Of course, there is always the option to bend previously cut parts. However, it“s often the case that workpieces are cut on one side or both sides and, under some circumstances, also need to be shaped.
Effectively combine cutting, bending, and shaping:
transfluid provides the right solution for this, as general manager Stefanie Flaeper explains: „Depending on the requirements, our portfolio combines machines to create systems that are able to be loaded with tube lengths. The tubes are initially bended and then cut with blades. The special feature in this case is that this process is completed on the level of the bending machine and therefore enables scrap to be eliminated completely or extremely reduced.“ The tubes are therefore able to be cut to their final length. Depending on the pipe size, the separating cut runs from 2 to 3 mm. „In terms of commercial efficiency, this is a value creating alternative production option, especially in case of bending parts with relatively numerous bends,“ continues Stefanie Flaeper.
Diverse and clean cutting
Depending on the application, the different ways of cutting ensure that optimised results are able to be achieved. Especially in case of larger tubes in the exhaust area of a lorry, e.g. with 127 mm diameter, it may be sensible to use only one blade to cut, even if a small deformation results in the outer diameter. In particular, this does not play any role if shaping or calibration is still required on this tube end. „A significantly cleaner cut results if two blades are used for cutting. This has the advantage that no deformation occurs on the pipe. This produces an absolutely straight separating cut,“ emphasises transfluid“s general manager. Shaping can also be applied here directly. In case of smaller tubes, this approach is usually better, since possible deformation towards the inside does not enable corresponding shaping tools to be used. The diameter is usually too small in this case.
Practical experience – systems and robotics
A system developed by transfluid for a current project enables the processing of tubes of up to 60 mm with a bending radius of 1 x D. Most of the tubes produced in this case feature two or three bends, with the cut made straight after the last bend. No additional follow-up cuts are required. The bending machine for this solution features a centre-line booster and three bending planes, plus the plane where the cutting tool is used.
An additional system, which has only recently left the transfluid workshop, can now process tubes up to a diameter of 60 mm in practical applications. The features of the machine are very similar to those mentioned previously. However, in this case the handling is executed in full by four robots. The machines are designed, so that all of the tools are interchangeable and shared. This system is able to produce a set of tubes for an engine manifold, consisting of four different tubes, without the need for follow-up cutting. Next, a robot supplies the tubes immediately to the final processing step. This system component shapes the tubes asymmetrically to that they may be welded to the motor flange compactly in a separate work process. Finally, the handling robots take over again, which provide one kit each to the following welding robot. Both systems complete the cutting process with two cuts, since an extremely good cut is required for the best possible resulting product.
transfluid Maschinenbau GmbH – the solution for tubes
transfluid is sought after worldwide as a partner for manufacturing tube bending machines and tube processing machines. Since 1988 transfluid has been further developing its technologies for tube machining, so that it can provide customer-oriented, tailor-made solutions – for plant and machine construction, the automotive and energy industries,
shipbuilding and medical device manufacturing.
transfluid’s product portfolio offers perfect solutions in five different machine categories, that meet all the requirements in tube processing. t bend stands for a wide range of tube bending machines, which fulfil the highest demands in terms of industrial applications. The tube forming machines in the t form range offer the perfect tube shaping solutions. Tube forming is important as an individual or supplementary process, in order to obtain optimally tailored tubes. Automation systems are offered as fully developed concepts for bending and forming technology, under t motion. t cut covers the field of tube cutting machines. Here, transfluid is able to provide a range of different systems, for example for chipless orbital cutting and special knive separation processes. The category t clean encompasses tube cleaning machines. These ensure the cleanliness of workpieces and tubes. Additionally, with the new tu go range, transfluid offers a standardised portfolio of machinery, which is available from stock for immediate delivery. transfluid offers the powerful software t project for rapid and reliable tube processing. It can be used as an effective online solution for bending machines and the majority of CAD systems.
Company-Contact
transfluid Maschinenbau GmbH
Stefanie Flaeper
Hünegräben 20-22
57392 Schmallenberg
Phone: +49 2972 97 15 – 0
Fax: +49 2972 97 15 – 11
E-Mail: s.koehler@psv-marketing.de
Url: https://www.transfluid.net/en/homepage.html
Press
PSV
Stefan Köhler
Schlachthausstraße 10
57072 Siegen
Phone: +49 (0) 271 7700160
E-Mail: s.koehler@psv-marketing.de
Url: http://www.psv-marketing.de
